McDonald's, Lam Research, Tribune

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Among the companies whose shares are expected to see active trade in Thursday's session are McDonald's Corp., Lam Research Corp., Tribune Co. and Nexen Inc.

Fairchild Semiconductor International
FCS, -0.25%
is expected to report a third-quarter loss of a penny a share, according to analysts polled by Thomson First Call.

Nexen Inc.'s
NXY
third quarter is expected to show per-share earnings of $1.04.

Tribune Co.
TRB, -14.29%
is seen posting a third-quarter profit of 48 cents a share.

Winnebago Industries Inc.
WGO, -1.66%
is expected to show a per-share profit of 42 cents in its fourth quarter.

After Thursday's closing bell, McDonald's Corp.
MCD, +0.67%
reported robust September sales results and offered up preliminary profit projections that outpaced Wall Street's expectations, partly due to a rebound in Europe. See full story.

Watch list

Alliance Imaging Inc.
AIQ, -0.62%
said it expects third-quarter revenue of $106 million, compared to its previous forecast of $107 million to $110 million. Third-quarter net earnings are expected in the range of $4.4 million to $5 million, while adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization is expected to range from $39 million to $39.5 million, compared with its earlier forecast of $41.5 million to $43.5 million. For 2005, the Anaheim, Calif.-based medical imaging company revised its revenue forecast to $424.5 million to $428.5 million. Earnings are expected in a range of 34 cents to 40 cents a share.

Bell Microproducts Inc.
BELM, +0.46%
said it expects third-quarter earnings of 7 cents to 9 cents a share on revenue of $760 million. Analysts surveyed by Thomson First Call had forecast third-quarter earnings of 16 cents a share on revenue of $823 million. Additionally, the company said overall sales in the quarter grew by 4%.

Blackboard Inc.
BBBB
said it has agreed to acquire WebCT Inc. for $180 million in cash. Washington-based Blackboard, which provides software to educators, expects the acquisition to close later this year or in early 2006. Blackboard also reaffirmed its third-quarter and full-year 2005 financial forecast and issued its first forecast for 2006. For 2006, the Washington-based company expects net earnings of 73 cents to 77 cents a share on revenue of $155 million to $159 million.

Goody's Family Clothing Inc.
GDYS
said two lawsuits have been filed in connection with its agreement to be acquired by affiliates of Sun Capital Partners. The complaints, which name Goody's and its directors as defendants, are seeking, among other things, certification as a class action, a determination that fiduciary duties were breached and injunctive relief against the proposed transaction and unspecified damages. Goody's said it believes the complaints are without merit.

Kirby Corp.
KEX, -0.50%
said it expects to report third-quarter net earnings of 65 cents to 67 cents a share, after the impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The company estimated the hurricanes reduced results by 10 cents to 12 cents a share. In the year-ago period, the Houston-based marine transportation and diesel engine services company reported earnings of 53 cents a share. Analysts surveyed by Thomson First Call currently expect Kirby to report third-quarter earnings of 68 cents a share.

Komag Inc.
KOMG, +0.00%
increased its third-quarter revenue forecast to $180 million and its net margin forecast to a range of 17% to 18%. The San Jose, Calif.-based supplier of thin-film disks had previously said it expected third-quarter revenue similar to its second-quarter figure of $172.4 million, and its net margin to be about 16%.

Lam Research Corp.
LRCX, -2.86%
reported net income fell 45% from a year ago as it shipped less equipment to chip manufacturers. But the quarterly profit was better than analysts expected. See full story.

Lone Star Technologies Inc.
LSS, +1.25%
said it expects third-quarter net earnings of $48 million to $51 million, or $1.55 to $1.65 a share. In the same period a year ago, the Dallas-based tubing manufacturer reported net earnings of $26.8 million, or 91 cents a share.

Nabi Biopharmaceuticals
NABI
said it has received positive results from its consistency lots study for StaphVAX, a staphylococcus vaccine. The Boca Raton, Fla.-based company said the study data showed that StaphVAX can elicit high levels of anti-staphylococci antibodies, and that it can be consistently and successfully manufactured. The data also demonstrated that the manufacturing process is both well-controlled and reproducible, Nabi said.

NDCHealth Corp.
NDC
reported first-quarter net earnings of $2.64 million, or 7 cents a share. In the same period a year ago, the company reported a net loss of $6.97 million, or 19 cents a share. Revenue at the Atlanta-based healthcare information services company rose to $100 million from $91 million last year. The company expects second-quarter revenue of $98.5 million to $101 million.

Veritas DGC Inc.
VTS, +0.65%
reported fourth-quarter net earnings of $46.2 million, or $1.31 a share, vs. $8.5 million, or 25 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Revenue at the Houston-based provider of geophysical information to the oil and gas industry edged up slightly, to $136.7 million from $136.3 million. Analysts polled by Thomson First Call had estimated earnings at 14 cents a share on revenue of $143 million. The company said it reversed $36.9 million of valuation allowances on certain of its deferred tax assets during the fourth quarter, resulting in a net tax benefit of $37.3 million.

Sonic Corp.
SONC, +1.03%
reported fourth-quarter earnings of $24 million, or 39 cents a share, vs. $21.3 million, or 34 cents a share, during the same period a year ago. The Oklahoma City-based drive-in restaurant chain posted revenue of $180.6 million vs. $160.2 million. Analysts surveyed by Thomson First Call had forecast fourth-quarter earnings of 39 cents a share on revenue of $182 million. Sonic also reported that its system-wide same-store sales rose 4.4% in the quarter. Looking ahead, the company said it expects first-quarter earnings of 28 cents to 30 cents a share on revenue growth of 12% to 14%. Sonic also forecast same-store sales growth of 2% to 4% in the quarter.

Spartan Stores Inc.
SPTN, +0.55%
reported second-quarter earnings of $6.85 million, or 32 cents a share, down 1.4% from $6.95 million, or 34 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Revenue at the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based grocery distributor fell to $485.5 million from $486.7 million. Spartan said it expects second-half pro forma earnings in 2006 to be similar to pro forma earnings in the second half of 2005.

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